Sometimes pointing out misleading signage gets results.
Two weeks ago these were the signs outside Dangleway North at the entrances to the two queues.
If you have a boarding pass join the Boarding Queue.
If not join the Ticketing Queue.
BOARDING QUEUE
TICKETING QUEUE
If you have onsite or online boarding passes please JOIN THIS QUEUE
If you would like to purchase a boarding pass or receive more information please JOIN THIS QUEUE
Otherwise please JOIN THE TICKETING QUEUE
If you booked your journey online or if you have the boarding passes already please JOIN THE BOARDING QUEUE
But there was no mention of Oyster or contactless. I blogged about how disingenuous this was, given these were the cheapest and most convenient ways to travel.
Two weeks later the posters have been updated. Result!
It's now explicit that Oyster and contactless can be used.
But with so many extra words, the information is now less clear.
BOARDING QUEUE
TICKETING QUEUE
You can use your Oyster or contactless card for one way journey only If you plan to return please bear in mind you must disembark on the other side and join the Boarding Queue (if any)
If you have onsite or online boarding passes please JOIN THIS QUEUE
You can use your Oyster or contactless card for one way journey only If you plan to return please bear in mind you must disembark on the other side and join the Boarding Queue (if any)
If you would like to purchase a boarding pass or receive more information please JOIN THIS QUEUE
Otherwise please JOIN THE TICKETING QUEUE
If you booked your journey online or if you have the boarding passes already please JOIN THE BOARDING QUEUE
All the original text is there, but now with an additional long paragraph in front.
The first extra sentence stresses that Oyster and contactless can only be used for one way journeys. You might think this was very much the point of a public transport link with only two termini, but many tourists intend to ride straight back again because the Dangleway is primarily a tourist attraction.
The second extra sentence tells card users to get off on the other side if they want to come back, which must be an issue Dangleway staff often get to deal with, but isn't something you technically need to know at this point.
What none of this tells you is which queue to join. Indeed all the instructions underneath are identical to before, so it's never made explicit that Oyster and contactless users should join the Boarding Queue.
If you've just arrived and need to know what action to take, the extra introductory text has just made that harder to unpick.
The proof that this verbiage has been added by an employee prioritising pedantry over comprehension is the final bracket... (if any). This is entirely superfluous because you still have to join the Boarding Queue even if there's nobody in it. It's just extra words for the sake of it.
The update could have been so much simpler.
BOARDING QUEUE
TICKETING QUEUE
If you have Oyster or a contactless card or a boarding pass please JOIN THIS QUEUE
Otherwise please JOIN THE TICKETING QUEUE
Non-stop return journeys require a boarding pass
If you have Oyster or a contactless card or if you booked your journey online please JOIN THE BOARDING QUEUE
If you would like to purchase a boarding pass or receive more information please JOIN THIS QUEUE
Instead it's an excellent example of improving something while simultaneously making it worse.
